Le Mans-winning Ferrari 275 GTB heads for Scottsdale Auction

This 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti won its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Spa-Francorchamps 1000 km and 1969 Imola 500 km. It has since won concours events and is likely to become one the most expensive cars ever sold when it crosses the auction block in January (2015) in Scottsdale.

Ferrari dominates the rare car market. Fifty-three of the most valuable cars ever sold at auction are from Maranello and the more expensive, the more the Italian Stallion prances, with 30 cars in the top 50, 14 cars in the top 20 and nine of the top ten. This 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti was a class winner of the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours, 1969 Spa-Francorchamps 1000 km and 1969 Imola 500 km under Scuderia Filipinetti.

It is Ferrari Classiche red book certified and has kept winning (at concours events) since it was retired. It is likely to become one of the top ten most expensive cars ever sold when it crosses the auction block in January (2015) in Scottsdale.

Our analysis of the top 100 cars ever to have sold at auction is yielding some interesting information relevant to this sale, specifically that America dominates the sale of rare automobiles – 76 of the top 100 cars were sold in the United States (74.5 percent).

The reason it's 74.5 percent is that the top 100 actually includes 102 cars at present because 100th spot is shared by three cars which sold for identical prices. Regardless, the reason America dominates is partially because there are more high net worth individuals in America than anywhere else. America also embraced the automobile far more than any other country and it includes more people who appreciate and can afford fine cars.

Hence, when this 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti goes to auction in Scottsdale, Arizona next January, it is likely to sell for more money than 99 percent of the world's population will earn in a lifetime.

Provenance is the key to the price of a rare car, and with class wins of such gravitas under it's belt, this very rare (one of just 12 built) and historic competition Ferrari looks set to reach the stratosphere of the rare car market.

This car (chassis number 09079) was delivered new to famous race team owner Georges Filipinetti of Geneva, Switzerland, and has had an exceptional and well-documented history.

Competing three times consecutively (1967-69) in the prestigious race Le Mans 24 Hour race, it won the GT class its first year with Filipinetti team drivers Rico Steinmann and Dieter Spörry. Then in 1969, the first and only time it raced Spa-Francorchamps, it won the GT class with Filipinetti team drivers Jacques Rey and Edgar Berney, and then went on to win its class at Imola. In the right hands, number 09079 was a force to be reckoned with.

Launched in 1966, this new GT-class Ferrari designed expressly for competition was built around a completely new chassis specific to the model. It was lighter and stronger than the chassis of the standard 275, was fitted with reinforced wheel hubs and wider than standard wheels, and given twin saddle-mounted alloy fuel tanks with quick-access exterior fuel and oil filler caps. Additionally, it was wrapped in an ultra-thin alloy body thereby reducing weight even further.

The powerplant was also new, with a Tipo 213 Competition motor developed from the Ferrari factory team racer campaigned the previous year. The new 3.3-liter, V12 engine with fully dry sump benefited from a long list of uprated factory modifications. And the strategic placement of this awesome engine – lower and farther back – provided even more advantage with its nearly perfect weight distribution.

Not only were the physical properties of this car extremely impressive but the aesthetics also wowed the world. Its long, shark-like nose with gill-like side vents and low, wide stance made it appear both rakishly handsome and predatory at once. And its practicality, too, made it enormously attractive as it could be ferociously raced on the track or sportingly driven to the country club.

After its tenure with Filipinetti, car 09079 found a home with several respected American collections during the 1970s and 80s. Then in 1985 its body was damaged in a garage fire but the engine, drive train and chassis were all unharmed. The car was shipped to Italy where its bodywork was meticulously and accurately restored to factory specifications by marque experts Carrozzeria Brandoli, after which it received its red book certification from Ferrari Classiche confirming its matching numbers engine, chassis, suspension and transaxle.

Since then, this stunning champion has also won several honors at contemporary shows and events, including the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and has participated in Le Mans Classic, Silverstone Classic and Tour Auto, to name a few. Recently, it was one of just 60 Ferraris selected worldwide to represent the 60th anniversary of Ferrari in Beverly Hills.

Authentic, pedigreed, historic and gorgeous, the highly useable 09079 is truly a car of international importance and represents a rare opportunity for interested buyers. To see and hear this incredible machine in motion, watch this video.

This 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti won its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Spa-Francorchamps 1000 km and 1969 Imola 500 km. It has since won concours events and is likely to become one the most expensive cars ever sold when it crosses the auction block in January (2015) in Scottsdale.

Authentic, pedigreed, historic and gorgeous, the highly useable 09079 is truly a car of international importance and represents a rare opportunity for interested buyers

This car (chassis number 09079) was delivered new to famous race team owner Georges Filipinetti of Geneva, Switzerland, and has had an exceptional and well-documented history.

Launched in 1966, this new GT-class Ferrari designed expressly for competition was built around a completely new chassis specific to the model

When the 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti goes to auction in Scottsdale, Arizona next January, it is likely to sell for more money than 99 percent of the world's population will earn in a lifetime.

The 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti

After its tenure with Filipinetti, car 09079 found a home with several respected American collections during the 1970s and 80s

Authentic, pedigreed, historic and gorgeous, the highly useable 09079 is truly a car of international importance and represents a rare opportunity for interested buyers

This 1966 Ferrari 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta Competizione Scaglietti won its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Spa-Francorchamps 1000 Km and 1969 Imola 500 Km. It has since won concours events and is likely to become one the most expensive cars ever sold when it crosses the auction block in January (2015) in Scottsdale.

The powerplant was also new, with a Tipo 213 Competition motor developed from the Ferrari factory team racer campaigned the previous year

Launched in 1966, this new GT-class Ferrari designed expressly for competition was built around a completely new chassis specific to the model

Competing three times consecutively (1967-69) in the prestigious race Le Mans 24 Hour race, it won the GT class its first year with Filipinetti team drivers Rico Steinmann and Dieter Spörry. Then in 1969, the first and only time it raced Spa-Francorchamps, it won the GT class with Filipinetti team drivers Jacques Rey and Edgar Berney, and then went on to win its class at Imola. In the right hands, number 09079 was a force to be reckoned with.